title: Effects of single doses of alprazolam and diazepam, alone and in combination with ethanol, on psychomotor and cognitive performance and on autonomic nervous system reactivity in healthy volunteers.
abstract: Effects of alprazolam, alone and in combination with ethanol, on psychomotor and cognitive performance were studied in healthy male volunteers and compared to effects of diazepam. Alprazolam 2 mg produced relatively long-lasting impairments on tests of tracking, verbal and nonverbal information processing, and memory, and decreased blood pressure without a change in heart rate or plasma norepinephrine levels. Although ethanol consumption was demonstrated to produce additive decrements in performance on certain tasks, there was little evidence to support a synergistic effect. Alprazolam 2 mg was accompanied by increased self-reports of side effects, especially drowsiness. Low dose alprazolam, diazepam, and ethanol produced significantly fewer side effects than 2 mg alprazolam, but significantly more than placebo.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linnoila
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stapleton
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lister
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Granger
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Eckardt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000525:Alprazolam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D003708:Nordazepam / Q000097:blood; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D003708:Nordazepam; D003975:Diazepam; D009638:Norepinephrine; D000525:Alprazolam